A bicyclist was injured Monday, June 16, after being shot with a flare gun during a confrontation involving several juveniles in the 1100 block of Bonham Street.
According to the Paris Police Department, the victim was riding a bicycle when a group of juveniles confronted him, claiming that the bike belonged to one of them. A verbal altercation followed, during which one of the suspects produced a flare gun and fired it at the victim from approximately 20 feet away, striking him in the stomach and causing pain.
The suspect fired a second round, narrowly missing the victim and a nearby passing vehicle. The group of juveniles then fled the area, heading northbound on the walking trail.
Officers recovered spent flare cartridges at the scene and spoke with multiple uninvolved witnesses. The victim sustained minor injuries and did not require hospitalization.
Police have identified the suspect involved in the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing. Due to the nature of the weapon used, the offense is being classified as Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
